The small, exclusive club of openly gay professional male athletes has a new member. Former NBA center John Amaechi, who spent five seasons with four teams, on Wednesday became the first NBA player to publicly come out. Amaechi will appear on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” Sunday, and his autobiography, “Man in the Middle,” will be released next Wednesday. Three years after his playing career ended, Amaechi became the sixth professional male athlete from one of the four major American sports (NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL) to publicly discuss his homosexuality. Former NFL running back David Kopay came out in 1977; offensive lineman Roy Simmons and defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo came out more recently. Glenn Burke, an outfielder in the 1970s, and Billy Bean, a utility player in the 1980s and 1990s, also have come out. NBA commissioner David Stern said a player’s sexuality is not important. “We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always, ‘Have you got game?’ That’s it, end of inquiry,” he said.

Rice’s Graham rounding third and heading home

“My wife asked me the other day, ‘How long are you going to do this?’ I said, ‘Well, dear, I’m afraid you’re going to have to watch me croak in the third-base coach’s box, so get ready.”‘

Wayne Graham, 70-year-old Rice baseball coach, on entering his 16th season with the top-ranked Owls and 27th overall as a collegiate head coach

Laser arm not included

Die-hard Bears fan Scott Wiese signed a pledge at a Decatur, Ill., bar last week that if Chicago lost the Super Bowl, he would change his name to that of the man who led the Indianapolis Colts to victory. So Tuesday, Wiese went to the

Macon County Courts Facility and started the process of changing his name to Peyton Manning. “I think

I kind of represent all Bears fans,” he said. “Not that I’m saying they’re all idiots like me, but I represent their passion.” Manning, 30, and Wiese, 26, have little in common. Manning stands 6-feet-5 and has a contract with the Colts worth more than $100 million. Wiese is 5-11 and works at an office-supply store for somewhat less.

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“This is one of the great jobs in all of sports,” Colorado AD RIck George said Sunday. “There's not a better job in America than here in Colorado." Translation: If you’re not here to win championships, pal, don’t join the party.

If recent history is any indication, Helton likely faces an uphill climb to become the first Colorado player inducted into Cooperstown because of the bias that voters tend to hold against hitters who spent their careers playing home games at elevation.

The inspiration for the nickname came from "the outdoors, the sunshine, that feeling you get when you live here in Colorado," Vibes general manager Chris Phillips explained during Monday's name unveiling.

In his long-running role as the Chargers’ yappy quarterback, Rivers is the football villain Denver loves to hate most. On this November afternoon, Rivers inexplicably decided to pick a fight with Harris, the Broncos’ shutdown corner.